15 Beautiful Examples of Mathematics in Nature

12b

10 – Pinecones,

10a

  • Pinecones have seed pods that arrange in a spiral pattern. They consist of a pair of spirals, each one twisting upwards in opposing directions.
  • The number of steps will almost always match a pair of consecutive Fibonacci numbers. For example, a three–to–five cone meets at the back after three steps along the left spiral and five steps along the right.
  • This spiralling Fibonacci pattern also occurs in pineapples and artichokes.

9 – Honeycombs,

9d

  • Bees are renowned as first-rate honey producers, but they’re also adept at geometry. For centuries, mankind has marvelled at the incredible hexagonal figures in honeycombs. This is a shape bees can instinctively create; to reproduce it, humans need the assistance of a compass and ruler!
  • Honeycombs are an example of wallpaper symmetry. This is where a pattern is repeated until it covers a plane. Other examples include mosaics and tiled floors.
  • Mathematicians believe bees build these hexagonal constructions because it is the shape most efficient for storing the largest possible amount of honey while using the least amount of wax. Shapes like circles would leave gaps between the cells because they don’t fit perfectly together.
  • Some party-poopers think the hexagonal shape of honeycombs is an accident. They refuse to believe that bees are architectural masterminds, and reason the hexagonal shape occurs when the wax around the bees’ circular cells collapses it into a hexagon. Either way, it’s a fascinating example of symmetry in nature.

8 – Tree Branches,

8c

  • The Fibonacci sequence is so widespread in nature that it can also be seen in the way tree branches form and split.
  • The main trunk of a tree will grow until it produces a branch, which creates two growth points. One of the new stems will then branch into two, while the other lies dormant. This branching pattern repeats for each of the new stems.
  • A good example is the sneezewort, a Eurasian plant of the daisy family whose dry leaves induce sneezing.
  • This pattern is also exhibited by root systems and even algae.

7 – Milky Way Galaxy,

7a

  • Symmetry and mathematical patterns seem to exist everywhere on Earth – but are these laws of nature native to our planet alone? Research suggests not.
  • Recently, a new section on the edges of the Milky Way Galaxy was discovered, and, by studying this, astronomers now believe the galaxy is a near-perfect mirror image of itself.
  • Using this new information, scientists have become more confident in their theory that the galaxy has only two major arms: the Scutum-Centaurus and the Perseus.
  • As well as having mirror symmetry, the Milky Way has another amazing design. Like nautilus shells and sunflowers, each ‘arm’ of the galaxy symbolises a logarithmic spiral that begins at the galaxy’s centre and expands outwards. Trippy dippy.

6 – Faces,

6c

  • Humans possess bilateral symmetry, and research suggests a person’s symmetry is of paramount importance when determining physical attraction.
  • Faces, both human and otherwise, are rife with examples of the Golden Ratio. People with lopsided faces would need to be really rich, really funny, or, um, really well-endowed to compensate for this perceived flaw.
  • Studies have shown that mouths and noses are positioned at golden sections of the distance between the eyes and the bottom of the chin. Comparable proportions can be seen from the side, and even the eye and ear itself, which follows along a spiral.
  • Of course, everybody’s different, but averages across populations lean towards phi. The closer our proportions adhere to phi, the more attractive those traits are perceived. For example, the most beautiful smiles are those in which central incisors are 1.618 wider than the lateral incisors, which are 1.618 wider than canines, and so on.
  • From an evo-psych perspective, it’s possible that we are primed to like physical forms that adhere to the golden ratio, as this is a potential indicator of reproductive health.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT PAGE

Reactions
  • Epic (40%)
  • Wat (19%)
  • No (17%)
  • Lewd (12%)
  • Creepy (12%)

One thought on “15 Beautiful Examples of Mathematics in Nature

Comments are closed.